Agnes C (Young) Ashdown

“You have granted me life and loving kindness; And your care has preserved my spirit.” -- Job
10:12
“Her children rise up and bless her.”--Proverbs
31:28
“ Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead,
yet
shall he live.”--John 11:25
Mrs. Agnes (Aggie) Young Ashdown, age 95, of Southport (St. James), North Carolina was called to her
eternal home by her loving Savior Jesus Christ after a long journey with dementia, on Sunday the fifth
of July, 2020 in the Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Hospice Center, Bolivia, NC. Agnes was a beloved
wife,mother, grandmother (Grammy Aggie), great-grandmother, aunt, friend and neighbor. Agnes
enjoyed 51 years of marriage to Robert K. Ashdown, Jr before he passed away in 1996. She was a
blessing to her three children, seven grandchildren (Lisa Amaya-Price, Darren Amaya, Jesse Ashdown,
David Ashdown, Jonathan Ashdown, Austin Van Sloten, and Tyler Van Sloten) and 20 great
grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews who will miss her love and generous spirit that have
enriched their lives immeasurably. She is survived by her daughter, Carol and her husband, Don
Amaya of Southport, NC, her son, Wayne Ashdown and his wife Bonnie of Greenwich, NY, her
daughter, Beth Manz and her husband Paul of Toano, VA, and one brother, Wesley Young and his wife
Elenore of Palm Springs, FL. Her brothers Albert, Warren and sister Lorraine predeceased her by many
years.
Born in Islip, NY on March 10, 1925, Agnes was the daughter of the late Albert E. and Theresa
Gnilka Young and Gladys Abrams Young (stepmother). She lived on Long Island in the towns of
Lindenhurst, Freeport and Merrick, New York before retiring to North Fort Myers, Florida. Agnes and
Bob spent their summers on the Great Sacandaga Lake in the Adirondack Mountains in Day, NY.
Three years ago, she moved to Southport, NC to live with her daughter Carol and son-in-law Don.
For 18 years, she worked for the Merrick Union Free School District,Merrick New York as an
elementary school teaching assistant, helping students with learning disabilities. Her heart was
always greatly warmed when she saw the progress of her students. Her enthusiasm, positive attitude,
and expertise were most appreciated by students, teachers and staff.
Aggie’s smile could light up a room. Her face shone with a radiance that came from her deep faith and
love of God. An attitude of gratitude permeated her life. A believer in the power of prayer to change
things, she never failed to tell others about her faith in God and her love of the Lord Jesus Christ ,and
to pray without ceasing for her family and friends. The Word of God was always on her lips, and was
the inspiration for how she lived her life. She was an active member of the following churches over the
years, always serving faithfully: Freeport Baptist, Merrick Baptist, Northville Baptist, McGregor Baptist
and First Presbyterian Fort Myers, FL. She also attended St Philips Episcopal Church in Southport
with her daughter, Carol. Agnes’s testimony includes a miraculous recovery from a stroke in 2005.
After a hard-fought rehabilitation, she was blessed with good health and continued traveling north to
visit friends and family whenever possible. “Grammy Aggie” treasured the fellowship, prayer and
heartfelt worship she found at her son Wayne’s church, New Covenant Community, in Schuylerville
and Greenwich, NY.
A lover of classical music, ballet and opera, Agnes loved to sing and worship the Lord. She sang in
the church choir, the choir at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Crusades in Madison Square Garden, NY
and a community chorus. For over 20 years she attended the Tanglewood Music Festival in Lenox,
MA where she attended rehearsals and performances of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and
Tanglewood Festival Chorus.She loved attending the Metropolitan Opera in NYC and recently
enjoyed the live streaming of operas from the Met.
A lover of sports, she played on Freeport High School’s softball, basketball and volleyball teams, and a
women’s softball league. With her husband, Bob, she played mixed doubles tennis with friends and
founded the tennis association at Pine Lakes in N. Fort Myers FL where she played competitive tennis.
She also enjoyed golfing with her husband and friends. Watching golf,tennis and major league
baseball brought her pleasure when she could no longer participate in sports. On the occasion of her
50th wedding anniversary, Yankee announcer Phil Rizutto, congratulated Bob and Agnes during a live
telecast. Rizutto remarked how the newlyweds had enjoyed a Yankee double-header while on their
honeymoon in NYC in July 1945.
Agnes had a gift for hospitality. Cooking delicious meals and desserts and serving them to her guests
brought both them and her great pleasure. She never knew a stranger and with her winning smile, she
made friends wherever she went. Always exuding a spirit of gratitude and a compassionate
character,the words “Thank you” were always on her lips, and she tried to accept,adapt and
appreciate others for who they were. Volunteering for FISH (Friends in Service Here), she gave rides
to doctor appointments, shopping, church or to the airport. A true friend, she was always there to help
and comfort others in their grief or distress.
Agnes was an animal lover with a special place in her heart for dogs and cats. She enjoyed feeding
the birds, especially hummingbirds and the chipmunks. An avid gardener, she would spend hours in
the garden tending her vegetables and flowers. She often volunteered as a poll worker in Florida on
election day. A tireless worker, she once held three different jobs to help her youngest daughter with
college tuition and to pay for her son’s dental work. A vivid example of the woman depicted in
Proverbs31, she devoted herself to her family. A proud mother, grandmother, and great grandmother,
she never tired of bragging about the accomplishments of her progeny.
Every night after saying the Lord’s Prayer with her daughter, they would sing the old Franny Crosby
hymn: “To God be the glory , great things He has done. So loved He the world that He gave us
His son. Who yielded His life an atonement for sin and opened the life gate that all may go in.
Praise the lord, praise the Lord,Let the earth hear His voice! Praise the Lord,praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice! O come to the Father,through Jesus the Son,And give him the
glory,great things He has done!
A graveside service and interment beside her devoted WWII veteran husband will take place in the
Prospect Hill Cemetery, Schuylerville, NY at a later date. A celebration of Agnes’ life is planned at a
later date at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Southport, NC and in Schuylerville, NY. In lieu of
customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial donations be made in her
name to: Lower Cape Fear Lifecare Foundation, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401, (910) 796-7900 or to https://lifecare.org/ways-to-give/.
Online condolences are encouraged and may be sent to the family at www.fulwoodfuneralservice.com
Michael J Fulwood Funeral Service Licensee, 910-471-5441

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